A bomb disposal expert who saved hundreds of lives in Afghanistan has been killed by a Taliban bomb.

Staff Sergeant Brett Linley, 29, died while clearing explosives on Saturday and was hailed by his military bosses as a 'true hero'.

In five months on the front line with the Royal Logistic Corps, he defused 100 bombs, on one occasion dismantling three in just one hour.

'True hero': Staff Sergeant Brett Linley was killed whilst clearing explosives on Saturday and could be posthumously awarded the George Medal

Military sources claimed S.Sgt Linley, from Birmingham, would be posthumously awarded the George Medal, the second highest honour for bravery.

Bomb disposal is one of the most dangerous jobs in the Army.

His death follows that of Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, who was posthumously awarded the George Cross for making 70 devices safe before his death aged just 30 in October 2009.

Lieutenant Colonel David Southall, of the Royal Engineers, said: 'Staff Sergeant Brett Linley was a man of courage and composure - his loss has shaken us all.

'Brett faced the IED threat daily, but despite the risk, his heroism was without fuss or fanfare - such quiet and unassuming modesty endeared him to all.

'Brett leaves behind his partner and parents, whose grief we share. In this confused and turbulent world, I will miss his measured voice of reason and clarity of thought; it leaves a void we struggle to fill.'

Hero: Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, was awarded the George Cross are defusing 70 improvised explosive devices before he was killed by a blast in October last year

S Sgt Linley had qualified this year as a high threat IED operator after perfecting his technique over the past eight years including three tours of Northern Ireland.

His devastated girlfriend, also a soldier, was last night travelling back to the UK from her base in the Falklands, the Daily Mirror reported.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Strickland, commanding officer of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles said: 'I have a vivid memory of him which I think captures everything that was good and courageous about him.

'After a soldier had been killed in an IED strike, Staff Sergeant Linley went forward to clear the area so that the soldier's personal effects could be recovered.

'I sat fifty metres away as the sun dipped in the sky watching his lone figure edging down a wood line, step by painstaking step.

'In the space of an hour, on his own, he found three more IEDs. There was no fanfare, he simply dealt with each device, and then silently moved on to the next.

'He did much more for us, both before and after this event, but it is a mark of the man that he was ever calm, utterly professional, and never made a fuss.

'He was a true hero who knew the risks of his job, but never hesitated to step forward into danger.'

Brave: A member of the joint forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team searches for explosive devices in Helmand Province, where S. Sgt Linley was killed after defusing 100 bombs in just five months. Military sources say he could be awarded the George Medal, right

In a reference to Staff Sergeant Schmid, his collegue S Sgt Gareth Wood said: 'Rest in Peace mate. Look after him Oz.'

An MoD spokesman said discussion of a posthumous medal was 'speculative' at this stage.

He added: 'There is no doubt that during his tour of duty in Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant Linley's actions have saved many lives, both Afghan and British, and his death is a tragic loss to his unit, his family and his friends.'

S Sgt Linley, who died in Nahr-e-Saraj, was one of four British servicemen killed in one of the bloodiest 24 hour periods of the conflict, bringing the UK death toll in Afghanistan to 322.

The other three, named on Sunday, were Sergeant David Monkhouse of the Royal Dragoon Guards, Marine Jonathan Crookes and Senior Aircraftman Kinikki Griffiths.